Manolo Marquez sets sights on crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Bangladesh after win over Maldives

Goals from Rahul Bheke, Liston Colaco, and Sunil Chhetri were enough to see off the Red Snappers.

Indian football team head coach Manolo Marquez and his men secured a commanding 3-0 win over the Maldives on Wednesday. The result will be a huge boost for the Blue Tigers as they prepare for their AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Bangladesh.

Following the impressive win, the Spaniard shared his satisfaction with the performance but raised concerns over a growing injury list ahead of the game against the Bengal Tigers. The 3-0 win was especially significant for India, as it ended a 489-day wait for the Blue Pilgrims to absorb that winning feeling.

A complete performance from Manolo Marquez’s men

Goals from Rahul Bheke, Liston Colaco and Sunil Chhetri helped settle a very important win for the home side at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong. The win was long overdue for Marquez, who had failed to win in his past four attempts where he drew three and lost one game.

While talking about the 3-0 result, the Spaniard stated, “When you win a game, you’re always happy. You can play well or not, but at least after many games, it’s important to get a win.”

Sunil Chhetri marks return with milestone goal

The 40-year-old made a triumphant return to the national team, scoring his 95th international goal for India in the 76th minute. While showcasing his ability to sniff out chances, Chhetri presented his trademark aerial ability, converting a precise cross to seal India’s dominant performance.

It was the first goal from open play for team India in a long time and Marquez shared his delight over Chhetri’s triumphant return. He stated, “I am happy, but Sunil will be happier than me. It’s a goal, I don’t know, 95? It’s a great number. He doesn’t need to prove anything anymore.”

ALSO READ: “Like he never left”: Twitter reacts as Sunil Chhetri guides India to win after 489 days

Injury woes ahead of Bangladesh clash

While the 3-0 victory lifted spirits, India faces a mounting injury crisis ahead of the start of their Group C fixtures in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers. They will be facing a challenging Bangladesh side in the opening group stage encounter.

The concerning part for Marquez will be the absence of several key players like Lallianzuala Chhangte, and Manvir Singh, who were sidelined just before the Maldives game. Adding to the woes, Brandon Fernandes also picked up a non-contact injury on the pitch, ruling him out of the next match.

While confirming Fernandes’ absence and indicating for the need for reinforcements, he stated, “For sure, he won’t be available. Yes, we will call someone. The pitch is very good, but if you remember the games against NorthEast, BFC, and Mumbai, a lot of players slipped. Today, Brandon’s injury happened because he slipped alone. It’s very dangerous.”

The Bangladesh game will be a real indicator

The Blue Tigers will now focus on their AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Bangladesh, a game that the Spanish head coach expects to be highly competitive. He stated, “For me, there is no easy game. Maybe the score is more, but I feel it will be difficult for both teams.”

The Bengal Tigers’ squad will feature Sheffield United FC midfielder Hamza Choudhury, a player with experience in the EFL Championship and also the Premier League. While acknowledging his quality, Marquez emphasized that the team as a whole has improved under consistent coaching in recent years.

He stated, “Hamza is a great player. He’s not in the Premier League now, but he’s playing regularly in the Championship. Bangladesh is playing much better because they have had the same coach for the last three or four seasons.”

Vishal Kaith makes his national team debut

The Mohun Bagan Super Giant shot-stopper earned his first cap for India in the match against the Maldives, but Márquez made it clear that the competition for the starting role remains open.

He warned while stating, “No, he was the number one today. This is my fifth game, and three goalkeepers have played. There are good goalkeepers, and there will be others,” he said.

With their confidence boosted by the Maldives victory, India now looks ahead to their showdown with Bangladesh.While underlining the importance of the upcoming matches, Marquez shared his thought of treating every match as a final.

With injuries piling up, the Indian national football team’s national pool will be tested to the limit. However, if India replicates their performance against Maldives, in the upcoming fixtures, the Blue Tigers could be in significant trouble if they don’t bury their chances.

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